Monitoring the Mid-Majors: Butler

Butler entered the 2009-2010 season with a No. 10 preseason ranking and loads of confidence to compete against the nation's finest. The Bulldogs returned important starters, including Gordon Hayward, who has NBA-potential. But in all reality, most, if not all, the nation didn't think Butler had a chance to get the Elite Eight or Final Four.

Tonight, the Bulldogs take on No. 1 seed Duke for the 2010 National Championship. All weekend, the media has funneled out information about the David vs. Goliath comparison. Despite that top-10 preseason ranking, Butler is relishing the underdog title. For the first time in modern NCAA history, a mid-major team can win the tournament.

According to CNBC sports business reporter Darren Rovell, Duke spent $394,068 per player in 2008-09. Butler spent $347,108 on player expenses for the entire team last season.

Duke's coach Mike Krzyzewski has won an Olympic Gold Medal and is gunning for his fourth National Championship. Butler's Brad Stevens could still be mistaken as a player.

But this is what the NCAA Tournament is about. This is why so many people across the nation fill out brackets and religiously watch the tournament games. This spectacle provides the opportunity for the small schools that are under appreciated, undervalued and poorly funded to take down program's making $4 million a year.

This tournament has been terrible for my bracket and even worse for the Terps (who would've had an "easy" route to the Final Four if it wasn't for Korrie Lucious). But in terms of mid-majors and upsets, the 2009-2010 tournament is an instant classic.

Butler (33-4) vs. Duke (33-5)
Points for per game: Butler (69.0), Duke (77.4)
Points against per game: Butler (59.4), Duke (16-0)

Last loss: Butler at UAB on December 22, 2009 (25 straight wins), Duke at Maryland on March 3, 2010 (9 straight wins)

Butler Head Coach: Brad Stevens
Key Players:
- Gordon Hayward (G-F) 15.6 ppg, 8.3 rpg
- Shelvin Mack (G) 14.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg , 3.1 apg
- Matt Howard (F) 11.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg

Tournament Resume:
First Round - No. 12 UTEP, 77-59
Second Round - No. 13 Murray State, 54-52
Sweet Sixteen - No. 1 Syracuse, 63-59
Elite Eight - No. 2 Kansas State, 63-56
Final Four - No. 5 Michigan State, 52-50.

The Bulldogs survived an upset to Murray State, but since then they have been on fire. They took down National Championship-contenders Syracuse and Kansas State. In the Final Four, Butler dodged a poor shooting performance and beat Michigan State by getting to the free throw line tonight.

It should be a great game to watch. For Duke, this is the time to get back on top in college basketball. But for Butler, it's for so much more - all the mid-majors watching and dreaming that maybe once day they too will play for the title.